Expt #8

Date: 31st January,2019.

Title: Inheritance in humans

Aim: To determine the distribution of genetically determined human traits in the classroom population
and to determine the extent to which individuals are different from one another based on the presence
or absence of selected traits.

Apparatus/Materials:

Population of the Unit 1 Biology class, list of phenotypes

Procedure:

1. For each of the following traits, the phenotype of the experimenter was determined, and it was
entered in the table below.
2. With the help of the laboratory instructor, the data was compiled for the class. The percentages
were calculated for each trait.
a) Cleft chin. A cleft in the chin.
b) Free ear lobe. In most people the ear lobes hang free, but in others the ear lobes are
attached directly to the head. Use a mirror or the opinion of your classmates to
determine your phenotype.
c) Interlocking fingers. When the fingers are interlocked, some people will almost
invariably place the left thumb on top of the right, whereas others will place the right
over the left.
d) Bent little finger. The last joint of the little finger is bent inward toward the fourth
finger. Lay both hands flat on the table, relax your muscles, and note whether you have
a bent or straight little finger.
e) Hitchhiker’s thumb. This characteristic, more precisely called distal hyperextensibility of
the thumb, can be determined by bending the distal joint of the thumb back as far as
possible. While there tends to be some degree of variation, certain individuals can bend
it back until there is almost a 90-degree angle between the two joints.
f) Pigmented irises. When there is no pigment in the front part of the eyes, then a blue
layer at the back of the iris shows through, resulting in blue eyes. When a pigment is
deposited in the front layer of the iris, this masks the blue layer to varying degrees. The
exact nature and density of this pigment is determined by several genes, thus there are
brown, hazel, violet, green, and other eye colours. Here you are concerned only with the
presence or absence of such pigment.
g) Mid-digital hair. Some people have hair on the second (middle) joint of one or more of
the fingers, while others do not. The complete absence of hair on this joint for all fingers
and the presence of hair is under the control of several genes. This hair may be very
fine, so you should use a hand lens to look carefully on all fingers before deciding
whether this hair is present on any one of your fingers.
h) Freckles. These are flat small concentrated spots of melanin on the skin. They usually
appear on the face but can appear anywhere on the skin.
 i) Facial dimples. Dimples are small, natural indentations on the cheeks. They can appear
on one or both sides, and they often change with age.
j) Widow’s peak. The hairline forms a distinct point (V-shaped point), known as a widow’s
peak, in the center of the forehead. Omit this tabulation if you have no hair on your
head or a haircut has altered the hairline.
3. A member of the class was picked to serve as an “individual”. Everyone in the class stood up.
The individual called out her phenotypes for each of the traits studied. As each phenotype was
called out, all those who did not have that phenotype sat down.

Observations and Results

Table showing the phenotypes of the students of the Unit 1 Biology class attending the Antigua State
College.

Characteristics Your phenotype Number of each Percentage of class

phenotype in the class with trait
1. Cleft chin × 2 5
No cleft chin  42 95
2. Free ear lobes  33 75
Attached ear lobes × 11 25
3. Left thumb on top × 25 57
Right thumb on top  19 43
4. Bent little finger  9 20
Finger not bent × 35 80
5. Hitchhiker’s thumb  20 45
Normal thumb × 24 55
6. Pigmented iris  44 100
Unpigmented iris × 0 0
7. Mid-digital hair × 7 16
No mid-digital hair  37 84
8. Freckles × 10 23
No freckles  34 77
9. Facial dimples × 12 27
No facial dimples  32 73
10. Widow’s peak × 9 20
No widow’s peak  35 80

Discussion:

How many characteristics must be considered before the “individual” stands out as a unique individual?
In a country where there has been little immigration, would you expect an individual to stand out sooner
or later than occurred in your class.
Assume that the cleft in the chin and dimpling in the face are each under the control of a single gene,
and that the alleles for a cleft chin (D) and a dimpled face (F) are dominant. Since these traits are not
linked on the same chromosome, consider the inheritance of these traits.

a. What is the phenotype of a person with the genotype DDFF?

b. What alleles would be present in gametes produced by this individual?
c. What is the phenotype of a person with the genotype ddff?
d. What alleles would be present in gametes produced by this individual?
e. If the two homozygous individuals above (DDFF and ddff) produce offspring, what would be the
expected genotypes and phenotypes of their offspring?
f. Assume that two individuals heterozygous for both traits (DdFf) marry and produce offspring.
What would be the phenotypic ratio of their offspring? Show the genetic cross used to derive
your answer.

Gametes DF Df dF df
DF DDFF DDFf DdFF DdFf
Df DDFf DDff DdFf Ddff
dF DdFF DdFf ddFF ddFf
df DdFf Ddff ddFf ddff

Gametes DF DF DF DF
df DdFf DdFf DdFf DdFf
df DdFf DdFf DdFf DdFf
df DdFf DdFf DdFf DdFf
df DdFf DdFf DdFf DdFf